Verb Tenses Tutorial Exercise 1 Simple Present / Present ...

[Pages:15]Verb Tenses Tutorial Exercise 1

Simple Present / Present Continuous 1. Every Monday, Sally (drive) ............... her kids to football practice. 2. Usually, I (work) ............... as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study) ................ French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris. 3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) ......... 4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) ............. . 5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always) ............ 6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say) .................... because everybody (talk) ................ so loudly. 7. Justin (write, currently) ............ a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished. 8. Do you want to come over for dinner tonight. Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go) ........... to a movie tonight with some friends. 9. The business cards (be, normally )................ printed by a company in New York. Their prices (be)................. inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good. 10. This delicious chocolate (be) ................... made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland.

Verb Tenses Tutorial Exercise 2

Simple Present / Present Continuous Today (be) .............. the second day of my trek around Mount Annapurna. I am exhausted and my legs (shake) ............; I just hope I am able to complete the trek. My feet (kill, really)............. me and my toes (bleed) .........., but I (want, still).......... to continue. Nepal is a fascinating country, but I have a great deal to learn. Everything (be) ............. so different, and I (try)........... to adapt to the new way of life here. I (learn).......... a little bit of the language to make communication easier; unfortunately, I (learn, not)............... foreign languages quickly. Although I (understand, not) ................. much yet, I believe that I (improve, gradually) .................... I (travel, currently) ............... with Liam, a student from Leeds University in England. He (be) ............... a nice guy, but impatient. He (walk, always) ............. ahead of me and (complain)............ that I am too slow. I (do) .................. my best to keep up with him, but he is younger and stronger than I am. Maybe, I am just feeling sorry for myself because I am getting old. Right now, Liam (sit)................. with the owner of the inn. They (discuss)................ the differences between life in England and life in Nepal. I (know, not) .................... the real name of the owner, but everybody (call, just)................. him Tam. Tam (speak) ................... English very well and he (try) ............... to teach Liam some words in Nepali. Every time Tam (say)............... a new word, Liam (try).............. to repeat it. Unfortunately, Liam (seem, also).............. to have difficulty learning foreign languages. I just hope we don't get lost and have to ask for directions.

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Verb Tenses Tutorial Exercise 3 Simple Past / Past Continuous 1. A: What (you, do) ................ when the accident occurred? B: I (try) ..................... to change a light bulb that had burnt out. 2. After I (find) ....... the wallet full of money, I (go, immediately) ........ to the police and (turn) ............... it in. 3. The doctor (say) ............... that Tom (be) ................ too sick to go to work and that he (need) .................. to stay at home for a couple of days. 4. Sebastian (arrive) ................................. at Susan's house a little before 9:00 pm, but she (be, not) ................................. there. She (study, at the library) ............... for her final examination in French. 5. Sandy is in the living room watching television. At this time yesterday, she (watch, also) ................... television. That's all she ever does! 6. A: I (call) ............ you last night after dinner, but you (be, not) .......... there. Where were you? B: I (work) ............... out at the fitness center. 7. When I (walk) ................ into the busy office, the secretary (talk) ................. on the phone with a customer, several clerks (work, busily) ............. at their desks, and two managers (discuss, quietly) ............. methods to improve customer service. 8. I (watch) ............. a mystery movie on T.V. when the electricity went out. Now I am never going to find out how the movie ends. 9. Sharon (be) .................. in the room when John (tell).......... me what had happened, but she didn't hear anything because she (listen, not) ................. 10. It's strange that you (call) ................. because I (think, just) ............................about you. 11. The Titanic (cross) ....................... the Atlantic when it (strike) .........................an iceberg. 12. When I entered the bazaar, a couple of merchants (bargain, busily) ............... and (try) ............ to sell their goods to naive tourists who (hunt) ............... for souvenirs. Some young boys (lead) ................... their donkeys through the narrow streets on their way home. A couple of men (argue) ..................over the price of a leather belt. I (walk) .................... over to a man who (sell) ................. fruit and (buy) .................... a banana. 13. The firemen (rescue) .......... the old woman who (be) .......trapped on the third floor of the burning building. 14. She was so annoying! She (leave, always) ...................... her dirty dishes in the sink. I think she (expect, actually) ..................... me to do them for her. 15. Samantha (live) .................. in Berlin for more than two years. In fact, she (live) ............. there when the Berlin wall came down. 2. Verb Tenses Tutorial Exercise 4 Simple Past / Past Continuous Last night, while I was doing my homework, Angela (call) ............. She said she (call)......... me on her cell phone from her biology classroom at UCLA. I asked her if she (wait) ........... for class, but she said that the professor was at the front of the hall lecturing while she (talk) ....... to me. I couldn't believe she (make) ......... a phone call during the lecture. I asked what was going on. She said her biology professor was so boring that several of the students (sleep, actually) .............. in class. Some of the students (talk) .............. about their plans for the weekend and the student next to her (draw) ................ a picture of a horse. When Angela (tell) ...................me she was not satisfied with the class, I (mention) .............. that my biology professor was quite good and (sugest).............. that she switch to my class. While we were talking, I (hear)............... her professor yell, "Miss, are you making a phone call?" Suddenly, the line went dead. I (hang).............. up the phone and went to the kitchen to make dinner. As I (cut) .......... vegetables for a salad, the phone rang once again. It (be) ............. Angela, but this time she (not sit )........in class.

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Verb Tenses Tutorial Exercise 5 Simple Past / Present Perfect 1.A: Did you like the movie "Star Wars"? B: I don't know. I (see, never) ................................. that movie. 2. Sam (arrive) ................................. in San Diego a week ago. 3. My best friend and I (know) ..... each other for over fifteen years. We still get together once a week. 4. Stinson is a fantastic writer. He (write) ................. ten very creative short stories in the last year. One day, he'll be as famous as Hemingway. 5. I (have, not) ................................. this much fun since I (be) ................. a kid. 6. Things (change) ................. a great deal at Coltech, Inc. When we first (start) ............ working here three years ago, the company (have, only) ................ six employees. Since then, we (expand).......... to include more than 2000 full-time workers. 7. I (tell) ................ him to stay on the path while he was hiking, but he (wander) ...................... off into the forest and (be) ...................... bitten by a snake. 8. Listen Donna, I don't care if you (miss) ........... the bus this morning. You (be) .............. late to work too many times. You are fired! 9. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he (see, never) .............. the ocean. He should come with us to Miami. 10. How sad! George (dream) .............. of going to California before died, but he didn't make it. He (see, never) ............. the ocean. 11. In the last hundred years, traveling (become) .................. much easier and very comfortable. In the 19th century, it (take) .... two or three months to cross North America by covered wagon. The trip (be) ........very rough and often dangerous. Things (change)............ a great deal in the last hundred and fifty years. Now you can fly from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours. 12. Jonny, I can't believe how much you (change)......... since the last time I (see)............... you. You (grow) ............... at least a foot! 13. This tree (be)....... planted by the settlers who (found)........... our city over four hundred years ago. 14. This mountain (be, never) ................................. climbed by anyone. Several mountaineers (try) ................................. to reach the top, but nobody (succeed, ever) ................ The climb is extremely difficult and many people (die) ................ trying to reach the summit. 15. I (visit, never) ................. Africa, but I (travel) ................. to South America several times. The last time I (go)............... to South America, I (visit) ................... Brazil and Peru. I (spend)............ two weeks in the Amazon, (hike) ....... for a week near Machu Picchu, and (fly) ..... over the Nazca Lines.

Focus on Verbs Exercise 6 Simple Past / Present Perfect 1. Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology (change) ................................. a great deal. The first computers (be) ................................. simple machines designed for basic tasks. They (have, not) ................................. much memory and they (be, not) ................................. very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often (pay) ................................. thousands of dollars for machines which actually (do) ................................. very little. Most computers (be) ................................. separate, individual machines used mostly as expensive typewriters or for playing games. 2. Times (change) .................................. Computers (become) ................................. powerful machines with very practical applications. Programmers (create) ................................. a large selection of useful programs which do everything from teaching foreign languages to bookkeeping. We are still playing video games, but today's games (become) ................................. faster, more exciting interactive adventures. Many computer users (get, also) ................................. on the Internet and (begin) ................................. communicating with other computer users around the world. We (start) ................................. to create international communities online. In short, the simple, individual machines of the past (evolve) ................................. into an international World Wide Web of knowledge.

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Verb Tense Tutorial Exercise 7 Present Perfect / Present Perfect Continuous 1.Robin: I think the waiter (forget) ................. us. We (wait)....... here for over half an hour and nobody (take) ........ our order yet. Michele: I think you're right. He (walk) ..... by us at least twenty times. He probably thinks we (order, already) ......... Robin: Look at that couple over there, they (be, only) ..... here for five or ten minutes and they already have their food. Michele: He must realize we (order, not) .... yet! We (sit) .... here for over half an hour staring at him. Robin: I don't know if he (notice, even) ............ He (run)............. from table to table taking orders and serving food. Michele: That's true, and he (look, not) ................ in our direction once.

Verb Tense Tutorial Exercise 8 Present Perfect / Present Perfect Continuous 1. A: How long (be) ............... in Canada?

B: I (study) ....................... here for more than three years. 2. I (have) ................. the same car for more than ten years. I'm thinking about buying a new one. 3. I (love) ..........chocolate since I was a child. You might even call me a "chocoholic". 4. Matt and Sarah (have) ................ some difficulties in their relationship lately, so they (go) .............. to a marriage counselor. I hope they work everything out. 5. John (work) ................ for the government since he graduated from Harvard University. Until recently, he (enjoy) ................. his work, but now he is talking about retiring. 6. Lately, I (think) ................ about changing my career because I (become) .................... dissatisfied with the conditions at my company. 7. I (see)............ Judy for more than five years and during that time I have (see) ........... many changes in her personality.

Verb Tense Tutorial Exercise 9 Present Continuous / Present Perfect Continuous 1. It (rain) ................................. all week. I hope it stops by Saturday because I want to go to the

beach. 2. A: Where is Gary? B: He (study, at the library) ................................. for his German test on Wednesday. In fact, he (review) ................................. for the test every day for the last week. 3. You look really great! (You, exercise) ................................. at the fitness center ? 4. Frank, where have you been? We (wait) ................................. for you since 1 P.M.. 5. A: What is that sound? B: A car alarm (ring) ................ somewhere down the street. It (drive)............. me crazy - I wish it would stop! It (ring) ................................. for more than twenty minutes. 6. Joseph's English (improve, really) ................, isn't it? He (watch) ........... American television programs and (study) ........... his grammar every day since he first arrived in San Diego. Soon he will be totally fluent. 7. A: You look a little tired. (You, get) ............ enough sleep lately? B: Yes, I (sleep) ......... relatively well. I just look tired because I (feel) ......... a little sick for the last week. A: I hope you feel better soon. B: Thanks. I (take, currently) ......... some medicine, so I should feel better in a couple of days.

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Verb Tense Tutorial Exercise 10 Present Continuous / Present Perfect Continuous Mr. Smith: So tell me a little bit about yourself, Mr. Harris. I would like to find out a little bit more about your background. Mr. Harris: I (work) ................... in the insurance industry for over ten years. I worked for Met Life for six years and World Insurance for four and a half. During that time, I heard many good things about Hollings Life Insurance and that's why I (apply) ..................for the new sales position. Mr. Smith: Tell me a little about your hobbies and interests. Mr. Harris: In my spare time, I hike in the mountains outside of town, volunteer at the Sierra Club and play tennis. In fact, I (compete) .................. in a tennis tournament this weekend. Mr. Smith: Really, how long (you, play) .................... tennis ? Mr. Harris: I (play) .......................... since high school. I love the sport. Mr. Smith: Great! We like dedication here at Hollings Life. You mentioned you volunteer at the Sierra Club. I (work, currently) ................................. with them on the sea turtle project. We (try) ............to create a wildlife sanctuary near the bay. Mr. Harris: Do you know Frank Harris? He's my brother. He (work, presently) ................................. on the same project. Mr. Smith: I know Frank quite well. Any brother of Frank's would be a welcome addition to Hollings Life. Just one more thing, we (look) ..........for somebody who is fluent in Spanish; many of our clients are from Mexico. Mr. Harris: No problem. I (study) ........... Spanish since elementary school. Mr. Smith: Sounds like you are the perfect candidate. Verb Tense Tutorial Exercise 11 Simple Past / Past Perfect I can't believe I (get) ..................that apartment. I (submit) ................ my application last week, but I didn't think I had a chance of actually getting it. When I (show) ............. up to take a look around, there were at least twenty other people who (arrive) .................. before me. Most of them (fill, already) ................. out their applications and were already leaving. The landlord said I could still apply, so I did. I (try) ................ to fill out the form, but I couldn't answer half of the questions. They (want) .................... me to include references, but I didn't want to list my previous landlord because I (have) ................. some problems with him and I knew he wouldn't recommend me. I (end) ............ up listing my father as a reference. It was total luck that he (decide) ................. to give me the apartment. It turns out that the landlord and my father (go) ................. to high school together. He decided that I could have the apartment before he (look) .............at my credit report. I really lucked out!

Verb Tense Tutorial Exercise 12 Simple Past / Present Perfect / Past Perfect

1. When I (arrive) ........................ home last night, I discovered that Jane (prepare) .................... a beautiful candle-lit dinner. 2. Since I began acting, I (perform) ................................. in two plays, a television commercial and a TV drama. However, I (speak, never even) ............... publicly before I came to Hollywood in 1985. 3. By the time I got to the office, the meeting (begin, already) ................................. without me. My boss (be) ................................. furious with me and I (be) ................................. fired. 4. When I (turn) ................................. the radio on yesterday, I (hear) ................................. a song that was popular when I was in high school. I (hear, not) ............he song in years, and it (bring) .............back some great memories. 5. Last week, I (run) ............................ into an ex-girlfriend of mine. We (see, not) ............................ each other in years, and both of us (change) .......................... a great deal. I (enjoy) ........................... talking to her so much that I (ask) ........... her out on a date. We are getting together tonight for dinner. 6. When Jack (enter) ................................. the room, I (recognize, not) ................................. him be-

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cause he (lose) ...............so much weight and (grow) ............. a beard. He looked totally different! 7. The Maya established a very advanced civilization in the jungles of the Yucatan; however, their culture (disappear, virtually) ................................. by the time Europeans first (arrive) ................................. in the New World. 8. I (visit) ................................. so many beautiful places since I (come) ....................... to Utah. Before moving here, I (hear, never) ............... of Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches or Canyonlands.

Verb Tense Tutorial Exercise 13 Past Perfect / Past Perfect Continuous I'm sorry I left without you last night, but I told you to meet me early because the show started at 8:00. I (try) ................... to get tickets for that play for months, and I didn't want to miss it. By the time I finally left the coffee shop where we were supposed to meet, I (have) ............. five cups of coffee and I (wait) .............. over an hour. I had to leave because I (arrange) ............... to meet Kathy in front of the theater. When I arrived at the theater, Kathy (pick, already) ..................... up the tickets and she was waiting for us near the entrance. She was really angry because she (wait) ............ for more than half an hour. She said she (give, almost) .......... up and (go) ........into the theater without us. Kathy told me you (be) ........... late several times in the past and that she would not make plans with you again in the future. She mentioned that she (miss) ............ several movies because of your late arrivals. I think you owe her an apology. And in the future, I suggest you be on time! several movies because of your late arrivals. I think you owe her an apology. Verb Tense Tutorial Exercise 14 Present Perfect / Past Perfect Present Perfect Continuous / Past Perfect Continuous 1. It is already 9:30 pm and I (wait) .............here for over an hour. If John does not get here in the

next five minutes, I am going to leave. 2. I was really angry at John yesterday. By the time he finally arrived, I (wait) ........... for over an hour. I almost left without him. 3. Did you hear that Ben was fired last month? He (work) ........... for that import company for more than ten years and he (work) ................in almost every department. Nobody knew the company like he did. 4. I (see) ............... many pictures of the pyramids before I went to Egypt. Pictures of the monuments are verymisleading. The pyramids are actually quite small. 5. Sarah (climb) .................. the Matterhorn, (sail) ..........around the world, and (go) ............. on safari in Kenya. She is such an adventurous person. 6. Sarah (climb) ................ the Matterhorn, (sail) .............around the world and (go) ................. on safari in Kenya by the time she turned twenty-five. She (experience) ............... more by that age than most people do in their entire lives. 7. When Melanie came into the office yesterday, her eyes were red and watery. I think she (cry) ..... Verb Tense Tutorial Exercise 15 Present Continuous / Simple Past Present Perfect Continuous / Past Perfect Continuous My English is really getting better. I (try) ............. to learn the language since 1985, but only recently have I been able to make some real progress. By the time I started high school in 1988, I (study) ............... the language for almost three years; however, I was only able to introduce myself and utter a few memorized sentences. For a couple more years, I (struggle) ..............through grammar and vocabulary lessons, which made absolutely no difference. Nothing worked, so I decided to study abroad. I found an exchange program in England that sounded like the perfect answer. I (stay) .................... with a host family for one month. It was a huge disappointment! I (sit) ................. there the whole time staring at the host mother and father hoping that there would be some breakthrough. Nothing. When I returned, I mentioned to a friend that I (have) .............. problems with the language for years. He recommended that I spend a year in an English speaking country. I decided to go abroad again. I (research) ................ exchange programs for a couple of weeks and finally decided on a school in the

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United States. Well, it worked. I (live) ............. and (study) ................. in the U.S. for more than two years. I (stay) ................. here for at least another year before I return home. By then, I should be completely fluent.

Verb Tense Tutorial Exercise 16 Present and Past Tenses and Non-Continuous Verbs 1.a. Look, I (have) ................................. two tickets for the circus. 1.b. Look, I (hold) ................................. two tickets for the circus. 2.a. We (be) ................................. there for more than half an hour by the time the show began. 2.b. We (wait) ................................. there for more than half an hour by the time the show began. 3.a. Sam (sit) .............................. in the seat next to me when the clown threw a bucket of water at me. 3.b. Sam (be) ............................. in the seat next to me when the clown threw a bucket of water at me. 4.a. One clown was juggling while he (balance) ................................. a glass of wine on his head. 4.b. One clown was juggling while he (have) ................................. a glass of wine on his head. 5.a. I (love) ................................. the circus ever since I was a child. 5.b. I (go) ................................. to the circus ever since I was a child. 6.a. Right now, I (see) ................................. two elephants doing tricks in the ring. 6.b. Right now, I (look) ................................. at two elephants doing tricks in the ring. Verb Tense Tutorial Exercise 17 Present and Past Tense Review Lars: Excuse me, which movie are you waiting for? Tony: We (wait) ................................. for the new Stars Wars Phantom Menace movie. In fact, we (wait) ................................. here for more than five hours. Lars: Five hours? When did you arrive? Tony: We (get) got here at 6:00 o'clock this morning. More than forty people (stand,already) ................................. here waiting for tickets when we arrived. Lars: I can't believe that! Are you serious? Tony: Yeah, people (take) ................................. Star Wars movies seriously. In fact, this particular showing has been sold out for over a week. We (wait, just) ................................. in line to get a good seat in the theater. Lars: When did you buy your tickets? Tony: I (buy) ................................. them last week by phone. I (know) ................................. tickets would be hard to get because I (hear) ................................. on the news that a group of people in Los Angeles (wait) ................................. in line for almost a month to buy some. Lars: I don't believe that! Tony: It's true. They (camp) ................................. out in front of Mann's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles for about a month because they (want) ................................. to be the first people to see the movie. Verb Tense Tutorial Exercise 18 Will / Be Going to 1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper? B: I (write) ................................. a letter to my friends back home in Texas. 2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up! B: I (get) ..................... you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up. 3. A: I can't hear the television! B: I (turn) ................... it up so you can hear it. 4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) ........... Paris, Nice and Grenoble. 5. Sarah (come) ................. to the party. Oliver (be)........... there as well. 6. A: It is so hot in here! B: I (turn) ...................... the air conditioning on. 7. I think he (be) .................. the next President of the United States. 8. After I graduate, I (attend)....... medical school and become a doctor. I have wanted to be a doctor all my life.

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9. A: Excuse me, I need to talk to someone about our hotel room. I am afraid it is simply too small for four people. B: That man at the service counter (help) .............. you. 10. As soon as the weather clears up, we (walk) ............... down to the beach and go swimming. Verb Tense Tutorial Exercise 19 Will / Be Going to 1.Mark: What are you doing with those scissors? Beth: I (cut) ................................. that picture of the ocean out of the travel magazine. Mark: What (you, do) ................... with it? Beth: I (paint) .................... a water color of the ocean for my art class, and I thought I could use this photograph as a model. 2. Mark: (You, do) ....................... me a favor Sam? Sam: Sure, what do you want me to do? Mark: I (change) ...................... the broken light bulb in the lamp above the dining room table. I need someone to hold the ladder for me while I am up there. Sam: No problem, I (hold) ................. it for you. 3. Gina: Where are you going? Ted: I (go) .................... to the store to pick up some groceries. Gina: What (you, get) .................? Ted: I (buy) .................... some milk, some bread, and some coffee. 4. John: Wow, it's freezing out there. Jane: I (make) ....................... some coffee to warm us up. Do you want a piece of pie as well? John: Coffee sounds great! But I (have) ...... dinner with some friends later, so I'd better skip the pie. Jane: I (go) ....................... to dinner tonight too, but I'm having a piece of pie anyway. 5. Frank: I heard you're taking a Spanish class at the community college. Tom: Yeah, I (go) ............. to Guatemala next spring and I thought knowing a little Spanish would make the trip easier. Frank: I (visit) ................. my brother in Marseilles next year. Maybe I should take a French class. Tom: I have a course catalog in the other room. I (go) ....................... get it, and we can see whether or not they're offering a French course next semester.

Verb Tense Tutorial Exercise 20 Will / Be Going to 1. Michael: Do you think the Republicans or the Democrats (win) .......................... the next election? Jane: I think the Republicans (win) .................... the next election. John: No way! The Democrats (win) ......................... 2. Susan: We (go) ................................. camping this weekend. Would you like to come along?

Sam: That sounds great, but I don't have a sleeping bag. Susan: No problem. I (lend) ...................... you one. My family has tons of camping gear. 3. Barbara: I (buy) ........................ a new car this weekend, but I'm a little worried because I don't really know much about cars. I'm afraid the salesman (try) ...................... to take advantage of me when he sees how little I know. Dave: I used to work for a mechanic in high school and I know a lot about cars. I (go) ................ with you to make sure you are not cheated. 4. Gina: Fred and I (visit) .................. Santa Fe next summer. Have you ever been there? Margaret: My family lives in Santa Fe! I (give) ...................... you my parents' phone number. When you get to Santa Fe, just call them and they (give) ................... you a little tour of the town. They can show you some of the sights that most tourists never see. 5. Pam: Can you see my future in the crystal ball? What (happen) ................ next year? Fortune Teller: You (meet) ..................... a man from the East Coast, perhaps New York or maybe Boston. You (marry) .................... that mystery man. Pam: Forget the man! I want to know if I (get) ................... a new job.

Verb Tense Tutorial Exercise 21

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